Kansas University’s baseball team accumulated 181 runs — an average of 12.07 a game — in its first 15 games at Hoglund Ballpark this season.

That offensive explosion came at the expense of non-conference mid-majors, so don’t expect the Jayhawks to continue scoring at such a scorching pace.

“I don’t think that’s possible,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “Our players understand that when you get in the Big 12 Conference you’re now playing at the national level. It’s something we’re all excited about, but at the same time the image of the games change, too.”

Kansas will play its first league games at home this weekend against Oklahoma. Game times are 6 p.m. tonight and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Senior left-hander Ryan Knippschild (5-3, 3.73 ERA) will start on the mound for Kansas (22-11 overall, 1-2 Big 12) in tonight’s series opener.

The Sooners (16-10, 4-2) arrive at Hoglund Ballpark on a four-game winning streak, having come from behind for one-run victories in all four games. They swept Baylor last week to open conference play and are tied with Texas for first place in the Big 12.

OU pitchers surrendered just 23 runs during that stretch — fewer than six a game.

“They’re on fire a little bit,” Knippschild said. “We’ll try to put that out. It should be a good one Friday — quarter dog night, hopefully a sellout, and maybe break the attendance record finally. We’ve just got to go out and do our thing.”

KU’s strength at Hoglund Ballpark is scoring, however, and, despite tougher pitching, Price expects the Jayhawks to continue swinging hot bats. His goal is to average seven runs per game, a level he believes should be enough offense to win most league games.

“We feel like if we can do that over the course of 27 Big 12 games, we’ll have a chance to have 15, 16, 17 wins in the league when it’s over,” Price said.

This weekend’s series could go a long way toward determining KU’s status in the rugged conference.

“I think we’ve taken a big step forward,” Price said. “We’re right on the verge now of being a legitimate Big 12 contender.”